OTAP moving to USO Building for Tuesday’s meeting

Ridgecrest’s Old Town Action Plan Committee will see a brief switch of scenery when it meets at the Historic USO Building on Tuesday to consider the Balsam District Brand.

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.comRidgecrest’s Old Town Action Plan Committee will see a brief switch of scenery when it meets at the Historic USO Building on Tuesday to consider the Balsam District Brand.While the committee typically meets at city hall on an as-needed basis, it made a decision to meet at the USO Building as a way to attract more input from the city’s downtown merchants, property owners and the general public.City Planner Matthew Alexander said Friday that some 250 flyers had been distributed across the downtown area, including more than 100 distributed by the children of one committee member.“They ran out of flyers to hand out,” Alexander said. “I think we will get good turnout.”One reason for the location — coupled with the 6 p.m.. meeting time — is for convenience.Alexander said when the committee utilized the USO Building two years ago, it had a fair turnout of approximately 50 people.“Everyone is encouraged to attend and offer input,” Alexander said.The Balsam District brand is one of the feathers in the cap of the city’s Old Town Action Plan. The idea, first envisioned in 2009 as part of the city’s updated General Plan, includes revitalizing Ridgecrest’s traditional downtown area around Balsam Street and Ridgecrest Boulevard.The Balsam District itself is the product of Lancaster councilman and marketing guru Ron Smith, incorporating an art deco-styled theme lending itself to the city’s aerospace industry background.Alexander indicated there might be some talking points the public could offer insight into.“One example would be signage to the (entrance) of the downtown area,” Alexander said. Locations would include the corners of French Avenue and China Lake Boulevard, China Lake Boulevard and Ridgecrest Boulevard and Ridgecrest Boulevard and Norma Street.Other ideas might include discussion over storefront renovations and some additional landscaping.Some concern was mentioned at the committee’s January meeting about how to fund it, and whether businesses might face the brunt of it.Alexander said it was categorically untrue.“No body is proposing tax increases or anything of the sort,” he said.Ridgecrest’s city council had earmarked some of the $24 million in Tax Allocation Bond money to help fund it. Alexander said funding might be tight, however. “Clearly it would be good sense to set priorities,” he said.

Alexander said the committee is independent of the planning commission, though its make-up includes three outgoing planning commissioners and Commission Chair Chris LeCornu. It was an advisory committee, Alexander said.OTAP committee participant Alan Alpers pointed out Friday that the meeting would be useful in many ways.“We hope the turnout’s going to be good and that business owners will at least figure out what it is about and give us input,” Alpers said. “It’s for the downtown businesses to help them develop new business opportunities.”Alpers pointed out the area was the original heart of the city, built back during the late 1950s and early ‘60s.“It was the civic center,” he said. “The city council met down there, you did your banking down there, the post office was there, so when you went down Balsam Street, that was where Ridgecrest folk congregated.”“It’s just struggling because shopping districts are getting spread out all over the valley, so we’re hoping to give this place an identity that will draw people to shop,” Alpers said.And the timing couldn’t be better, he said.“The money is coming to fix West Ridgecrest Boulevard this year or the next year out,” Alpers said.West Ridgecrest Boulevard is set to receive a major renovation in the 2013-14 fiscal year with money funneled through the Kern Council of Governments.“So if we get this all established and give everything a coordinated look, timing couldn’t be better,” Alpers said.A good aspect of the meeting is that it is in the area that is directly impacted by the proposed revitalization.“You really want to go into the area where the shops are and get their approval,” he said. “You don’t want to sit high in city hall down several blocks and look like you’re dictating to the shop owners.”

(This version corrects the committee meeting's start time. It starts at 6 p.m., not 6:30 p.m.)